What a relief! ... Andy Murray celebrates his big win. Source: J Pat Carter / AAP
Second seed Andy Murray has won the ATP Miami Masters title, saving a match point in the penultimate game in defeating third seed David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1).
Murray captured his 26th career tour title, and second of the year having taken the Brisbane crown, after a gruelling two hours and 45 minutes.
"Both of us fought hard,'' Murray said.
"Both of us were struggling physically at the end. I was lucky to come through.''
It was the second Miami title for Murray, who won the title in 2009 but lost last year's final to Novak Djokovic.
Murray will rise to world No.2, bumping his way ahead of Roger Federer, while Ferrer will move past Rafael Nadal to become fourth in the rankings, both men matching the best position of their careers with the improvement.
Nadal and Federer skipped this year's edition of the rich hardcourt event in Miami, which also included a WTA event won by Serena Williams, while world No.1 Djokovic was ousted in the fourth round.
Murray, who owns a home 10 minutes from the stadium, beat Ferrer, who turns 31 this week, for the seventh time in 12 career meetings.
Ferrer's only win over Murray off clay was at the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals.
Ferrer, who has won this year at Auckland and Buenos Aires, failed in his bid to win his first US title and become the first Spaniard to win the Miami title.
He is 0-12 in finals against players ranked in the world's top four.
"I am tired. It was a very long match,'' Ferrer said.
"Andy had more at the end. Congratulations to him.''
Ferrer and Murray exchanged breaks over the first six games of the third set, then each held serve once before Murray broke Ferrer for a 5-4 edge when the Spaniard netted a forehand.
Murray served for the match but surrendered a break instead, Ferrer pulling level and then holding serve for a 6-5 advantage.
Ferrer reached match point in the 12th game on Murray's serve but stopped play on the key point to challenge on a Murray forehand that was ruled on the baseline, setting the stage for Murray to hold and force the tie-breaker.
"That's the beauty of the challenge system,'' Murray said.
"Some matches that would have been over. Luckily it just dropped in.''
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